Saliva ejecting device



L. B. OLDER SALIVA EJECTING DEVICE I Aug. 22, 1950 Filed Aug. 14, 1948 JNVENTOR.

1.55752 .5. OLDER Patented Aug. 22, 1950 5 PATENT OFFICE SALIVA EJECI'IING DEVICE Lester B. Older, claim City, J. Application August 14, 1948, Serial No. 44,250

1 Claim. (01. 32-33) This invention relates to a saliva ejecting device adapted for use in dentistry.

It is an object of the instant invention to provide a saliva ejecting device that can be adjustably applied under and at both sides of the tongue.

A further object is to lessen patient discomfort.

Another object is to facilitate the work of the dentist.

Other objects of the instant invention will become apparent in the course of the following specification.

In the accomplishment of these objectives, the saliva ejecting device is formed with a Y-shaped central body, the upper portion of one arm of which is made rotatable upon the lower portion. Over the ends of both the rotatable and nonrotatable bifurcated members or arms of the Y- shaped member, a semi-flexible mouth tube is drawn and the two free ends thereof fitted in the patients mouth on either side of the tongue by bending over the lower teeth. A flexible tube between the bottom of the Y member and any known suction means completes the device.

The invention will appear more clearly from the following detailed description when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings showing by way of example a preferred embodiment of the inventive idea.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a front elevational view of the saliva ejecting device with the mouth pieces shown in full in one position of bending and rotating and in dot and dash in another position and constructed in accordance with the principles of this invention.

Figure 2 is a side elevational view of the saliva ejecting device shown in Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a sectional view along the line 3-3 of Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a sectional view along the line 4-4 of Figure 1.

Referring now in greater detail to the drawings in which like reference numerals indicate like parts, reference numeral I indicates the saliva ejecting device comprising the Y formed central body II, the two mouth pieces or semi-flexible ducts l2 and I3, and the tube l4 leading from the base of the Y body to any suction means (not shown).

The Y formed body II is made of any suitable material and in which the upper member P5 of one of the bifurcated members or arms is made rotatable about th lower member I 6. While any reasonably tight rotatable joint might be used, it has been found convenient for reasons of sanitation to use the ball and socket joint I! which is formed by the ball like protuberance I8 at the top of the lower member I6 adapted to be engaged by the socket I9 disposed at the bottom of the upper member I5. By forming the slots 20 in the body of the shell like socket l9, it may be snapped on and off the ball I8 for cleaning or the like and in addition to providing rotation of the upper member l5 about the lower member H5 in a given plane, similar rotation in other planes within the limits of manufacture may also be attained. Obviously both of the bifurcated members or arms of the Y member could be made rotatable.

The mouth pieces or semi-flexible ducts l2 andv I3 are formed of any suitable semi-flexible ma.- terial reinforced with the stiffening members 23 (Fig. 4) so that when said ducts are bent to any position it is possible to straighten the same for cleaning and then to rebend to accommodate the Varying characteristics of another mouth.

In the ends of the mouth pieces or semi-flexible ducts l2 and I3 are the sieve-like plugs 2| and 22 which permit liquids to pass freely therethrough but screen out any foreign matter that might clog the device.

At the base of the Y body II the tube I4 is attached in the usual manner with the free end connected to any water suction pump or the like which creates a sufiicient vacuum in the mouth pieces or semi-flexible ducts l2 and I3 to draw off the saliva as it accumulates.

The operation of the saliva ejecting device I0 is as follows: The semi-flexible duct I2 is bent to fit over the lower teeth with the end 2| under and on one side of the tongue. The semi-flexible duct I3 is then rotated by virtue of the ball and socket joint l! to the most desirable position so that when the duct I3 is bent, as in the manner of the duct l2, it will have the end 22 under the tongue on the side opposite the end 2| and to fit over and to be supported by the lower teeth. The free end of the tube I 4 is then connected to a known water suction device which removes the natural and other liquids from the mouth substantially at the points of greatest concentration and with relatively less annoyance to the patient than heretofore possible. In the course of the operation, foreign particles which might be detrimental to the device are screened out by the screen-like plugs 2| and 22 for subsequent removal.

It is apparent the specific illustrations shown above have been given by way of illustration and not by way of limitation and that the structures above described are subject to wide variation and modification without departing from the scope or intent of the invention, all of which variations and modifications are to be included within the scope of the present invention.

What is claimed is:

A saliva ejecting device, comprising a Y-shaped tubular piece having two arms and a central portion connected with said arms, one of said arms having an upper member, a lower member and a ball-and-socket jointrinterconnecting saidsmembers, said ball and socketjoint comprising-a ballshaped protuberance upon one of said members,

and a shell-like socket upon the other one of said" members, said shell-like socket enoiosingiqrsaidt protuberance and having a plurality of substantially axially extending slots formed therein7thejoint-carrying arm being longerrthamthezother:

arm, two semi-flexible tubes, stiffening members in said tubes, each of said tubes having oneend connected to a separate arm of the Y-shaped tubular piece, two plugs, each of said plugs having a hollow, spherical, perforated end portion and a tubular portion connected with said end portion, each of the tubular plug portions being connected to the other end of a separate tube, and a third tube connected with th central portion of the Y-shaped tubular piece.

' LESTER B. OLDER.

REFERENCESLGITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Nilmfiel Name Date 1,698,331i Gunter Jan. 8, 1929 1,7311322 Riddle Oct. 15, 1929 2 1025263 Grunewald Dec. 14, 1937 

